No Pain/No Gain

What if you couldn’t get a tax deduction for your tithes. What if you had to pay a tax to attend church. Would you still make worship service a priority?

What if you had to give up a promotion at work to attend weekly worship services?

Would you make church a priority? How would you explain to an non-believer teh benefit to coming to Sunday worship?

Smyrna was a prosperous and beautiful city 35 miles northeast of Ephesus. Today it is the city of Izmir, in modern day Turkey.

The church was faced with trail and troubles on two fronts. The Jews wanted them to deny Christ as Lord, and the Romans wanted them to deny Christ as lord of All. You could worship worship gods other than the emperor as long as you didn’t worship them more than the emperor.

If you gave Christ more attention than other religions or trusted god more than the government you would suffer the consequences. The Smyrna christian were always anxious and trouble about what would happen next.

Dewayne and the deer and the fence.

John 16:33 NASB95

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:

We should make attending weekly worship service a priority, because Christ gives us four expectations for dealing with temptation.

Christ gives us a message to deal with temptation.

The Lord God, who has power over time, death, and the grave has a message for you.

Christ gives us an honest evaluation of our temptation

Christ knows our two things that often tempt us to depend on someone or something other than Him. Pain and Poverty both tempt us to look for the easy way out of distress.

Tribulation from Jewish accusers and Roman persecutors. in 1:9 John says he is a brother and fellow partaker in tribulation, kingdom, and persecution, which are in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:14–16 NASB95

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14–

Those of us who share god’s kingdom can expect to suffer tribulation or persecution on this earth, which is under Satan’s influence.

The synagogue was a place to gather for worship.

The church became known as distinctly different from the synagogue.

Christ gives us an escape plan from temptation

Fear nothing about what is about to happen to you.

Be Faithful until death

Test (πειραζω) to tempt or cause someone to sin. Satan pressures us to take the easy way out of suffering. Testing is the devil attempting to cause us to sin.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB95

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 3:10 NASB95

According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.

The devil is about to throw some of you in jail.

The jewish slanders where pointing out to the Roman authorities that the Christians were not worshipping the Emperor as lord like the law required.

Aren’t you happy you don’t live in Rome. I am glad we don’t live in a country were the courts could force us to deny our faith in God’s Word. Wouldn’t it be awful to be afraid of going to jail for not making an idol of the emperor or the Roman goddess Roma. What if your metal shop was fined for forced to close, if you did not make what the government told you to make and sell.

Oh wait! that happens now in the USA.

1 Cor 3

The Oregon Court of Appeals, in December, 2017upheld a decision by Oregon's labor commissioner that forced two Gresham bakers to pay $135,000 to a lesbian couple for whom the bakers refused to make a wedding cake. (https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/12/appeals_court_upholds_fine_aga.html)

What is the difference in not making a cake, against your doctrine of faith, and A Chevrolet dealer not selling you a new Ram truck.

Ten Days symbolizes a limited time:

Daniel 1:12–15 NASB95

“Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. “Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.” So he listened to them in this matter and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youths who had been eating the king’s choice food.

daniel

Joshua 1:6 NASB95

“Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

Crown of Life: (στεφανος) is a laurel wreath presented to an athlete who endured to the end to win the contest. The crown of Life represents the resurrection life Jesus gives the believer.

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NASB95

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1 Cor 9:24-25

The Gain always outweighs the Pain.

Christ promises us victory over temptation, if we follow His plan

Polycarp was a disciple of John, who became Bishop Smyrna. About 60 years (156 AD) after John wrote this letter to Smyrna, he was martyred by the Romans. As Polycarp entered the arena, a voice was heard from heaven saying, “Be strong, Polycarp, act like a man.” No one saw the speaker, but all present reported the voice.

The proconsul asked “Are you Polycarp. He said, “I am.” Looking at the old man the governor said “Have respect for you age . . . Swear by the Genius of Caesar; repent and say away with the atheist.” Swear the oath; deny Christ and I will set you free.”

Polycarp looking around at the emperor worshippers and heathen, He replied away with the atheist.”

Then came the fearless faithful quote heard down through the centuries:

“86 years have I have served him, and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”

Friends repeat after me: “No shame in Life; No fear in Death, here in Christ alone I stand.”

Jesus promises we will not be hurt by eternal death (; ;).

The resurrection proves we are loosed from threat of the second death.